Liverpool: Liverpool FC regained the English Premier League (EPL) top spot by routing visiting Bournemouth 3-0 in a Matchday 26 contest here. The result at Anfield stadium here on Saturday was a bounce-back effort for the Reds, who had settled for draws in their previous two contests. Senegalese winger Sadio Mane and Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at halftime before Egyptian star Mohamed Salah netted an insurance goal just after the break.
Liverpool (65 points) had played to 1-1 draws against Leicester City and West Ham United in their previous two Premier League matches on January 30 and February 4, respectively, allowing defending champion Manchester City (62 points) to briefly take over the standings’ lead on goal differential. But now the Reds have their nose back in front and still have a game in hand on Manchester City.
With the win, the Red Devils provisionally hold the fourth spot in the standings with 51 points, pending Sunday’s clash pitting fifth-placed Chelsea (50 points) against Man City. In other Premier League action Saturday, sixth-placed Arsenal (50 points) continued to give chase by earning a 2-1 away victory over last-placed Huddersfield Town.
Cardiff City topped host Southampton 2-1 to win their second straight Premier League game and move further away from the relegation zone. Crystal Palace and West Ham United ended their contest Saturday tied at 1-1, while Watford scored a 1-0 victory over Everton, who lost their third straight Premier League game.
Real ahead
Madrid: Real Madrid climbed into second place in La Liga and gave themselves renewed hope of a title run with a 3-1 away victory over crosstown rival Atletico Madrid in Matchday 23 action. Santiago Solari’s men (45 points) now provisionally trail league-leading FC Barcelona by five points pending the Catalans’ match on Sunday against Athletic Bilbao.
Two of the four goals required the confirmation of the video assistant referee (VAR) staff on Saturday, while what could have been the first goal by Atletico newcomer Alvaro Morata was disallowed for off-side. Atletico came out aggressively in the opening minutes with a high press, but it was Real Madrid who drew first blood at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium shortly after the quarter-hour mark on their first scoring chance.
Defenders rose up on the play to prevent Spanish international Sergio Ramos from heading a corner kick by German midfielder Toni Kroos, but the ball then ricocheted softly to an unmarked Casemiro, who scored on a half-bicycle kick past Jan Oblak.
Napoli stumble
Rome: Napoli could finish the weekend trailing Serie A leaders Juventus by 11 points after Carlo Ancelotti’s wasteful side stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Fiorentina, as Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal to get Inter Milan back winning against promoted Parma.
\Both sides start their Europa League campaigns this week after crashing out of the Champions League with Napoli travelling to FC Zurich and Inter Milan away to Rapid Vienna in their round of the 32, first leg ties. Fiorentina goalkeeper Alban Lafont produced a string of saves to deny Piotr Zielinski and Dries Mertens as Napoli failed to score away from home for the third game running.
Ancelotti’s side have now been held twice in the past three games while hosts Fiorentina drew for the 11th time in 23 matches this season to sit ninth, but just six points off the Champions League berths.